Can’t / Breathe

I CAN’T BREATHE

WHEN I SEE A KNEE ON MY BROTHER’S NECK

WHEN I HEAR THE SILENCE OF THE PEOPLE BESIDE ME

WHEN I SMELL THE BLOODSHED OF INJUSTICE

WHEN I FEEL THE COLD SHOULDERS OF APATHY

WHEN I TASTE THE TEARS OF THE WRONGED AND THE OPPRESSED

I CAN’T BREATHE

WHEN I SEE THE WORDS OF TYRANNY BEING POSTED

WHEN I HEAR THE CRIES OF THE BATTERED AND THE BEATEN

WHEN I SMELL THE ROTTING CORRUPTION OF THE SYSTEM

WHEN I FEEL THE BOILING ANGER OF OUR BRETHREN

WHEN I TASTE THE DESPAIR OF GUT-WRENCHING BRUTALITY

I CAN’T BREATHE

WHEN I SEE THE WAR ON COLOR AND RACE

WHEN I HEAR THE EMPTY WORDS OF SYMPATHY IN SPACE

WHEN I SMELL THE ENTITLEMENT REEKING THROUGH THE PORES

WHEN I FEEL THE RAGE RINGING THROUGH OUR CORES

WHEN I TASTE THE FRUITS OF ABUSIVE POWER

I CAN’T BREATHE

BREATHE BREATHE BREATHE

This poem was written by Dorothea Gloria under TeamTheatre as a response to the Black Lives Matter Movement.